Polish Greyhound

FCI:

Polish Greyhound - Group X - Sighthounds, Section 3 - Short-haired Sighthounds.

General Appearance:

Its character is a confident, self-assured, brave, but also very vigilant and perceptive dog. It has warm relationship with the owner. To strangers it is a little suspicious, and if it is needed, for owner it is ready to work hard and defend against the danger. In such a situation it reacts immediately with unexpected vigour. It's fast, tough and agile, that it demonstrates at the races in which it puts all its skills with evident effort to succeed.

It behaves to its surroundings very distant and noble. Persons with whom it will be friends, it is choosing only itself. It is the perfect companion for older children. For its friendly coexistence with small pets it is essential early socializing. Then it can live a "common household" with a cat. It recognizes, however, unmistakably cats own and strange ones, which then it chases.

Training/Behaviour:

Education is not difficult if the requirements imposed on its respect its peculiar temperament and overall foundation of decent behaviour. It assumes a gentle but firm consistency, slavish obedience, however, we cannot definitely expect, it's too proud. This breed is not suitable for everyone. Inexperienced novice owner can have with its upbringing certain problems.

It's a dog-consuming exercise and physical activity is most appropriate for it to participate in races on the track or in the field. Within the framework of fitness training requires regular, long sharp pace accordingly held walks on a leash. They are much more effective workout than free-running, in which a greyhound at its speed a lot of time waiting for the owner it can relax. Training on the track and the condition when the owner some time is busy and he cannot do without some financial costs.

Body:

It is a dog of great size, strong and muscular, clearly bigger and stronger than the other short-hounds. It must not be heavy or clumsy. Strong bones, flexible body, greatly developed skeletal muscle and the powerful jaws show that this is a hunting dog suitable for harsh climatic conditions.

For the overall appearance it is also important expression of the eyes and a penetrating gaze. Body frame is rectangular shortly. Height at withers should ideally be 70-80 cm males and 68-75 cm female. Greater height at withers is permissible if it is maintained for the breed typical body.

The head should be strong, dry and long. Muzzle should be as long as the skull or slightly longer. The skull is flat above, longitudinal furrow only faintly visible. The frontal sinus and browridges are hardly recognizable. The lateral lines of the skull should move seamlessly into the side lines of the muzzle.

The frontal slope (stop) should be only very slightly marked and slightly sloping. The upper lines of the skull should be viewed from the side in an imaginary extension of slightly divergent with the muzzle. The muzzle must be strong, toward the nose gradually narrowing, but it should not be pointed, rather blunt ended. The end of the muzzle towards the nose slightly bent.

The nose should be black or dark-coloured, it should be great, and when viewed from the top is raised before the lower jaw. Lips throughout the length of the well are  adjacented to the jaw and teeth. Jaws and teeth must be strong, it requires a scissor bite, but bite is also acceptable.

Eyes should be fairly large, almond-shaped and slightly oblique. They may not be prominent. It is desirable that the dark colour. The eyelid rims should be dark. Ears should be of medium size, quite narrow. If they are stretched forward, they have their peaks reach to the inner eye corners. There are set at the level of the eye. Their cartilage is a relatively soft, which makes it look like quite fleshy. They should be folded back and adjacent to the neck.

The neck should be long, muscular, strong and on the imaginary cross-section oval. Its topline merges smoothly into the withers. The head should to be fairly held high.

In normal stance height at withers corresponds, height measured at the level of the hip bumps. Withers excessively prominent but is distinct. Topline body must be in the chest part straight. The loin should be broad and muscular, slightly arched. For females, it is not at fault, when the top line of the body in the loin almost equal. The croup should be slightly sloping, long, wide and muscular. The tail is long, thick at the root at rest carried low. Its tail can be up like a sabre or can form a complete ring.

The chest must be spacious, deep, ideally the sternum at elbow level. If it is seen from the front the chest shall be quite broad. Ribs are long in relation to the spine angled. Rear ones are to be clearly arched but not barrel. Sternum must be of sufficient length. Abdomen should be tucked up.

The forelegs must be a long, dry, but muscular. When viewed from the front are parallel to each other and, in normal stance are not too far apart. The elbows must not be turned in or out. Forearms are long. Pasterns when viewed from the side slightly angled. Feet should be oval in shape, with fingers tight and arched, must not be turned in or out. The hindquarters are long, properly angled, in normal stance backward shifted when viewed from behind parallel, slightly wider apart. Tibia must be long, thick hocks. Hind legs must be due to tight toes compact, oval, but longer than forefeet.

The skin is supple, well over the body adjacent to the skeletal muscle and skin. The top coat should be resilient to the touch, rather harsh, but not wiry. It should never be too silky. The body is of variable length, slightly longer on the withers, shorter on the sides, bottom shortest chest and legs. Behind the thighs and on the underside of the tail is the longest form a hint of "pants" and "brushes", but there must be harsh. All colours are acceptable.